SUBMITTED BY Timbo

October 29, 2003 — Variety reports that Orlando Bloom is going to star in Ridley Scott's "Kingdom of Heaven", which is to start shooting in Morocco on Jan.12.

The film, which takes place in the 12th century during the time of the Crusades, will be staged on a scale that Scott described as being slightly larger than "Gladiator," his Oscar-winning epic.

It continues a remarkable run for Bloom, a 26-year-old British actor who had just completed his studies at Guild Hall School of Drama when he was cast by Peter Jackson to play Legolas in "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring." He has become a cornerstone of that franchise, which concludes in December with "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King."